6 Ways to Make Play Time & Learning Fun with Your Little One

It happened so quickly... but some how I have a "big girl". She may only be 7 months but she's sitting up, giving standing up a try on occasion, and so full of sass each and every day... I like to say she's seven months going on seventeen. While she's already a little diva, I will say I know we are just so blessed to have this little life in our hands.

`

This little life has been given to us to nurture, to play with, to enlighten. It's pretty incredible, sometimes intimidating, occasionally infuriating, and absolutely almost always blissful, all at the same time. If you're a parent, you likely know what I mean.

On that same note, you'll understand what I mean when I say playtime has gotten more intense with D's new sense of self. She no longer just needs me to be in the same room while she plays with her toes and stares at the fan. She wants a little bit of interacting, a lot of stimulation, and dare I say, she's interested in learning?! This age is so fun, everyday she discovers something new and watching her do that is so rewarding. With that said, here's 6 different ways to make playtime more fun with your 6-12 month old!

1. Sensory Play - Sensory Play can involve everything, from playtime fun with Lamaze's Freddie the Firefly to colorful blocks and water inside a tray! We just try to encourage Delainey to learn through hands on activities. So sometimes I make the water a little warmer than others and I teach her that it's "warm", then we toss the "green block" around and "splash" in the water. I repeat these words over and over, while letting her play and learn. It's not the fanciest way to play but she loves it! While this is a simple example, we look forward to more sensory play activities and that leads us to...

2. My Friend Emily - This adorable little Lamaze doll may very well be D's new favorite. Emily is the perfect first doll for my little princess and with all kinds of interesting textures, bright colors, and different sounds, she's a great toy for my baby who loves sensory play! Not only is she stimulating to D's senses, she is a wonderful introduction to role playing and will even help D develop social skills. The best part is, she can go with us everywhere and not get lost. We can just clip her to D's stroller and off we go with Delainey's "Friend Emily". Do you want to get your little one a doll like this? Find out more here.

3. Outdoor I-Spy - Another way to teach Delainey about her senses and the world around her is playing outdoor I-spy. While the game is a little different because she can't exactly talk yet, it's still fun for both of us. We lay in the hammock and look up, with parrots, doves, colorful leaves, and all kinds of foliage surrounding us, it's easy to find items to have her look at... but I will say the screeching of the parrots is her favorite sound to follow. She just loves those loud little buggers! While you may not have parrots in your backyard (unless you also live in Florida), you probably have cardinals, blue jays, or a chipmunk or two... use the opportunity when a leaf crosses your path to talk about what you're seeing.


We don't just do this outdoors either, sometimes we narrate what's happening inside the house too. Like when I'm washing my hands, I'll tell her what I'm doing. If I'm petting the dog, I'll tell her that too. It sounds a bit like a Morgan Freeman narrative of my life sometimes, but I imagine it can't hurt to tell her what she's seeing. I like to think I'm even developing her language skills by doing this.

4. Stacking Rings - Speaking of developing skills, the Lamaze Stacking Rings are a great way to teach your baby dexterity and coordination. With crinkly rings and so many colors, D is a pretty big fan of knocking these over and digging through her pile of pretty colors until she finds her favorite... She also LOVES the rainbow ribbons on the top--like that's possibly the coolest thing she's ever seen. We're still working on stacking the rings back, but she loves this toy with all of its crinkly sounds and bright colors... plus it gives us another thing to narrate in our house! Haha. If you want one of these cool stacking rings, check it out here.

5. Dress up - Playing dress up may be my favorite thing to do with my sweet girl. She doesn't hate it either though... and it allows her the opportunity to learn new things and laugh a lot. We do everything from dressing up for tea parties to taking photos for our modeling (well, brand repping) gigs. She loves being able to see all the pretty fabrics and since I've already told you all about how we narrate, I'll just say that I love talking fabric and pattern detail and such with Delainey too. My little fashionista has become so stylish, it's a bit ridiculous... but oh so cute.

6. Art - Speaking of cute, that's what baby art is. We love making art together too. For almost every holiday or special occasion, D and I have gotten creative and made something beautiful! From Frankenstein feet paintings in October when she was only a month and half old to little Dr. Seuss inspired one fish, two fish foot paintings at 6 months old, she loves being able to feel the coolness of paint on her digits and I love seeing what she comes up with!

So there you have it, 6 fun and easy ways to make play time and learning fun with your little one! Do you have any special tips or fun ways to make learning fun and playtime a productive time in your child's life? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Baby's First Vacation: Keep Little Ones Stylish & Comfy with Carter's!

This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Everyday with Miss Delainey is an adventure, the little chickadee keeps us on our toes already and makes everyday full of wonder... but we're actually planning our first real adventure with our sweet girl soon. We are brave souls and we are planning on taking our car-seat-loathing baby on a road trip to Gulf Shores to spend time with family this summer.

While that means we are going to have to somehow convince her that her car seat isn't so bad, that also means I'm learning to pack for 2, for the first time. If you know me, you know I'm a chronic over-packer for any trip and you also know I love fashion, especially baby fashion... so it probably doesn't surprise you that Delainey's suitcase is fairly large and stuffed to the brim with seriously cute items from Carter's!

Baby Clothes may very well be an addiction for me, I mean the thrill of finding something super adorable for my sweet girl... what could be better? Luckily, Carter's makes it easy to find cute clothes for a great deal and their new line is so stylish, I was nearly beside myself when choosing what to bring along with us on our trip!

We snagged some shorts, a handful of tops, a couple of sets of pjs, and some beachy essentials... and, if I'm being honest, I still think we may visit again sometime soon so we can score some sweet Spring dresses and a few summer outfit sets! With that said, here's what's going inside Delainey's luggage (so far):

The first few items I decided to pack for D were the graphic tees we scored as a Doorbuster from Carter's, because I mean what could be more perfect for playtime with her cousins and more fitting for our vacation than graphic tees? Uhhh, nothing!

With a little poodle friend to make our poodle loving family smile, a happy day shirt because every day is a happy day with this girl, and a yoga shirt because this family loves yoga, these cute tee's are bound to be a hit among our family!

To go with our graphic tees, we just had to have the Ruffle Twill shorts, in two different colors so we could mix and match and have fun with her wardrobe! The pink and mint were the two that work best for us, but with the variety of colors, we may add a few more to her stash of Carter's cuteness for the trip!

The Little Traveler Sets were a must have, because hello cuteness... and how perfect is the name of these sets for our vacationing tiny tot? The two sets match perfectly so I got a little crazy and mixed and matched.

One day we are going to wear the stripes and the black pants another day we are going to rock the elephant tank with a pair of the ruffle shorts and maybe another day we'll wear a cardigan if it's feeling breezy, the options are almost endless. That's one of the things I love the most about Carter's - the versatility and how each item can be worn so many different ways!

On the same note as the little traveler set, I thought our little traveler needed a beach towel of her own and we all know sunglasses are a necessity for a diva on the beach!

The flamingo towel pairs perfectly with all of her cute Carter's swimsuits... and luckily, I've been stashing up on those beauties since before she was born! A day on the beach just wouldn't be complete with out Carter's cuteness involved, am I right?

After a day on the beach, it's always nice to get cleaned up and go out on the town, so that's exactly what we'll be doing one night while on our family vacation this summer. Obviously, for a nice dinner, D needs to be dressed for the occasion.

While I want her to be looking snazzy, I'm certain after a day at the beach she'll want to be comfy as well, so I found a compromise in the Ruffle Sleeve tank for some comfortable "fancy" clothes for the little diva. Paired with the bubble shorts from the traveler set and a big ol' bow, she'll be all set for the evening and looking stylish while still cozy!

After a long day on the beach and a night out on the town, there's nothing better than putting on some cozy PJs... especially if they have mermaids on them, am I right? I think Delainey agrees! We can't wait for PJ party fun with her cousins, but for now hanging with a unicorn in her mermaid pjs will just have to do!

While we all are pretty excited about the vacation, I guess I should address the fact that we practically live on vacation here in Florida... and that's why we love Carter's so much, they make items precious enough to bring on our family vacation with us, but comfortable and casual enough that we wear them around town and for play everyday too.

So tell me, what do you and your little's have coming up this summer? Are you planning a little spring adventure right now? Maybe you're contemplating a trip to the coast or  a little staycation in your own town! No matter where you vacation, be sure to stock up on essentials to keep your kiddo comfy from Carter's and don't forget to use this coupon to get score some even better deals on the adorableness!

Love Delainey's bows? They're from Darling Diva Boutique Bows and 21 Blessings!

4 Ways to Enjoy a "MOM-ent" to Yourself as a Mama

Let's face it, some days are rough as a parent. Lately, we are dealing with a teething mess... a cute mess, but man - teething is ROUGH... and I know, before we know it we'll be dealing with a sassy threenager. After all, D is 6 months going on 16.

If you're a mama, I'm sure you can relate.She's the sweetest thing one minute, then the sassiest little thing the next. Don't get me wrong, I'm so in love with watching her grow, but sometimes I need a little "MOM-ent" to myself... and that's what I'm talking about today - Taking a moment, really embracing life, and letting nothing worry me. How do I do it?

In between running to the grocery store and constantly nursing my tiny tot, it's not always easy. But I'm really doing my best to try and squeeze in a little time each day for me. Are you wanting to take a MOM-ent for yourself? I know sometimes it's difficult for me to really let loose and relax so today I want to share 4 ways to enjoy a "MOM-ent" to yourself!

1. No distractions - No work, no cleaning, no baby duty. Once little one is down for a nap, I take full advantage of the freedom this allows and I unwind. I stop responding to work inquiries for a bit, I don't get up, I just embrace the silence and boy, is it golden.

2. Treat Yourself - Once I've fully allowed myself to decompress, I take another moment to allow myself a treat. Something delicious, like Yo2 Frozen Yogurt.

What's Yo2? Well, let's start with where I found it, Winn Dixie! I'm so thankful for this delicious Frozen yogurt too, with six flavor options... I think everyone will be appreciative of this awesome brand. Interested in giving Yo2 a try for yourself? Find out where you can score a pint near you!

Now back to the scoop on Yo2 and what it is...well, we'll actually start with what it isn't - No high fructose corn syrup, No artificial flavors, and No artificial growth hormones, which means a lot to this mama! Now let's talk about what it is... Yo2 frozen yogurt starts with premium milk and yogurt, then cravable natural flavors are added in and mix ins like Raspberry Cheescake. The result is heavenly and absolutely delicious, the perfect treat to enjoy a mom-ent to yourself.

3. Swing! - Unwinding and Treats are a great way to enjoy yourself, but I feel like I need to mention that the real way I cut back on stress is spending time in our hammock in our back yard. It's the perfect cozy spot, quiet enough to embrace the silence and sometimes I even eat my fro yo while swinging in my favorite spot... Can you blame me?

4. Embrace life - While trying to escape for a second is nice, I also like to sit in the hammock and think about everything I'm thankful for... and obviously, that includes lots of time spent thinking about my sweet girl. It's nice to mentally make a list for everything I'm thankful for and honestly, I think it helps keep things in perspective all day long. Thinking about her curiousity, her genuine love for everything, and her sweet nature... it just makes my heart swell with joy.

Taking a moment isn't always easy, but it's important... so try and give yourself some time to do things you love... and be sure to grab some Yo2 and take a deep breath next time you have the chance to go to the grocery store alone! And if you are in the same teething stage we are in... hang in there, mama! Like I said, we all have our rough days... but I think we all will agree, the good days are totally worth it, aren't they?

Oh... parenthood.

Keep the Music Going with Google Chromecast Audio

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Lately I've been wanting to do a little more dancing, a little more tapping of my foot to the beat, a little bit more singing along with the music... maybe it's because I'm just so blissfully happy most days or maybe it's because it makes Delainey light up and grin bigger than anything. Either way, jamming out to The Lumineers while I'm organizing her room then heading out to rest on the hammock listening to classics like The Beatles, we like having music with us. Plus, I just think it's the coolest we've already bonded over music and she can't even speak yet... but I'm kind of biased because I think every thing she does is the coolest.

Speaking of the coolest, I'm sharing the coolest new gadget in our home with you today. It's our new way of jamming. Instead of hauling our speakers, phone, and/or stereo system around the house, we've upgraded our music listening  in our home with the Google Chromecast Audio.

It's a bit like having a stereo system installed everywhere in your house, all connected to your phone. So simple to connect, just one little wire plugged into your speaker, and you're jamming.

The sound quality is so much better than bluetooth too. I can use my speaker when I'm inside with D and have it connected to my husband's phone, even if he's all the way in the backyard doing yard work. It all works over our wi-fi so it's great quality and isn't interrupted when we step out of the room, which is just what we need since we're running from room to room trying to entertain our little princess.

The best part about the Chromecast Audio though, is the room-to-room connect-ability it offers. I love that I can have one of our Chromecasts in D's room and the other in the living room and our house sounds like a concert is bellowing through it. The sound is so clean and crisp, it's glorious and I love that I can use any speaker to connect! That means each room in my house will eventually have it's own little Chromecast and speaker, because why not? Every room needs to be ready to rock!

With that said, what do you think of the Chromecast Audio? What feature of the Chromecast Audio do you find the most intriguing? Also, I'm curious, which app will you start using with your new "sound system" first? I'm already a huge fan of Pandora but I may check out Google Play Music, I've heard great things! I can't wait to hear what you say!